John Calvin Commentary Isaiah 25:12

"And the high fortress of thy walls hath he brought down, laid low, and brought to the ground, even to the dust." — Isaiah 25:12 (ASV)

And the fortress. The Prophet now directs his discourse to the country of Moab. It was highly fortified and proud of its walls and fortifications. He affirms that the lofty towers and other defenses, however strong and seemingly impregnable, will be of no avail. The ancients, it is well known, had a very different method of fortifying from what is practiced among us.

He will bring down, lay low, and cast to the ground. The three words employed here to convey the meaning more strongly are not superfluous, for it was necessary to beat down that pride which swelled the hearts of the Moabites and which, as we previously saw, made them intolerable. The Prophet therefore mocks them: “As if the Lord could not cast down that loftiness of which you boast!”

To the dust. The meaning of this clause is as if he had said, “He will not only level it with the ground but will reduce it to dust, so that not even a trace of the ancient ruin will remain.”

This passage contains an excellent and very timely consolation. For the enemies of the Church in the present day are so haughty that they mock not only men but God himself, and are so swelled and puffed up by their power that they imagine themselves to be invincible.

But, in opposition to their bulwarks and defenses, we should bring forward this declaration of the Prophet: The Lord will quickly bring down and lay them low. Yet we must patiently endure seeing them strong and powerful, until the full time for their destruction arrives.